While these African elephants still have their tusks, more and more are being born tuskless due to the influence of poaching on the gene pool. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam)

(Newser)
–
By 1931, all but 11 elephants living in what is now South Africa's Addo Elephant National Park had been killed, mostly for their ivory. Of the eight female elephants left, half had no tusks. Now 98% of female elephants in Addo are tuskless, the Independent reports. The normal rate for African elephants is between 2% and 6%. Researchers say more and more elephants are being born without tusks as poachers kill off individuals with tusks and leave the rest to pass on their tuskless genes, according to Nautilus. “Females who are tuskless are more likely to produce tuskless offspring,” elephant expert Joyce Poole explains to the Times. In Mozambique's Gorongosa National Park, 90% of elephants were killed between 1997 and 1992; 30% of female elephants born since then are tuskless.

And the problem isn't getting better. Poaching has been on the rise since 2007. Approximately 144,000 elephants were killed between 2007 and 2014. Over the past decade, nearly a third of African elephants were killed by poachers. That's left African elephants facing extinction and in a tough place, evolution-wise. While being born tuskless protects them from poachers, it's dangerous in other ways. Elephants need their tusks for self-defense, sexual display, and digging for food and water. Without them, they're considered "crippled"—more likely to be malnourished and susceptible to disease. Sadly, researchers say the entire species could soon be tuskless if something isn't done. (The Great Elephant Census returns jarring news.)

The option would be euthanasia.. People that are supporting Human Population Control should rise up to kill off some of them for Natures Benefits and the good of the EARTH. They have very little value to the food chain... Just Kill them and put them out of their misery.. Make more room for the remaining species.

JFEB

Nov 27, 2016 7:37 PM CST

There is only one answer; hunt the poachers and their enablers.

Dennis

Nov 27, 2016 11:38 AM CST

I think this is a potentially great thing. The cause, of course is despicable and upsetting. However. if this is how elephants are adapting to survive, it's some of expedited-evolution's finest work. I, personally would rather see tuskless elephants than no elephants.